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The look he got in return did not suggest this would be forthcoming.
Kenver turned away and left the room. Everyone needed time to adjust to the sudden change, he told himself. Tempers would cool. People would become better acquainted. All would be well in the end.
Returning to Sarah’s bedchamber, Kenver found only Cranston there. The woman stared at him as if he was intruding. What had she been doing? Sarah’s clothes must be in order by now. Actually, what did Cranstonusuallydo at Poldene? He had no idea. “Where is my wife?” he asked her, his tone more clipped than usual.
“She inquired about the library,” said the older woman.
Of course she had. He ought to have guessed and gone there at once. Kenver turned, then hesitated and looked back. He met Cranston’s hard gaze and held it until the woman’s eyes dropped.
Kenver found Sarah sitting by one of the library windows with a book. When she raised her eyes, he was sad to see that she looked anxious. “How is the work going?” she asked.
“What?”
“You went to check on the workmen? That is, I thought you said you were going to do that.”
“I am just on my way there. I wanted to be sure you were…comfortable. What are you reading?”
“I found a history of your family. I thought it would be good to…”
Brushing past the way her voice trailed off, Kenver asked, “Is it the one written by the first earl?”
She consulted the title page. “Yes.”
“That is more legend than history. He wrote it to promote his interests with Queen Elizabeth. I believe he thought amusing her was the best way to do so.”
“It did seem a little…imaginative.”
“I expect he would be pleased to hear you say so. Taking it as a compliment, of course. Have you come to the story of his miraculous descent from Tristan and Iseult?”
“No.” She looked at the book. “He didn’t really claim that?”
“Oh yes.”
“But, in the stories, they never had any children.”
“Well, as the first earl would put it, how do you know? It was all a very long time ago. And he had the documents to prove it.”
She smiled. Kenver was very happy to see it. “Did he? Have documents?”
“Not that he would ever show anyone. So I would think, no.”
“I don’t see how Tristan and Iseult would have had time, with all the fateful magic potions and escaping execution and their tragic deaths.”
Kenver laughed. “Indeed.”
“They would have been terrible parents,” she added. “Always enacting desperate emotional scenes.”
“Mmm.” With nothing to say to this, Kenver held out his hand. “Come. I will give you a tour of the house.”
Sarah set aside the now more intriguing volume, stood, and clasped his hand. His fingers were warm and strong around hers. She’d never been happier to see anyone than when he walked in. His appearance had lightened a room that had begun to feel oppressive despite the rows of books. She’d never felt forlorn in a library before, which could not be a good sign.
“You should become acclimated, so that you can find your way around and not feel lost,” he added.
She did feel lost, and she didn’t think a better understanding of the geography was going to help. But she walked with him toward the door. His mother might have been the one to show her around her new home, but clearly she would not be doing so. “May I bring my books here?” she asked.
Kenver looked down at her. “What?”
“I brought some favorite books with me. There are no shelves in my bedchamber.” She did not add,and no room for any. That must be obvious. “May I put them here, do you think?”
